Wireless repeater system



April e, '1926. 1,575,669

` E. A. SPERRY WIRELES S REPEATER SYSTEM Original Filed March 12. 1920 2Sheets-Sheet 1 @nw/nto? April s 192s. 1,579,669

E. A. SPERRY WIRELESS REPEATER SYSTEM r Original Filed MaFCh l2. 1920 2Sheets-Sheet 2 hvamboz Patented Apr. 6, 19.215.

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ELMER A. SPEREY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK.

"WIRELESS REPEATER SYSTEME.

Original' application filed March 12, 1920, Serial No. 365,144. PatentNo. 1,428,507, dated September 5. 1922. Divided and this application:filed August 21, 1922, Serial No. 583,084. Renewed May 9, 1925.

T0 all 107mm t may concern:

vBe it known that l, ELMiin A. Srnniir, i citizen et the United Stateset America, residing at Brooklyn, in the county ot Kings and State otNew York, have invented certain neiv and useful Improvements in llilireless Repeater Systems, ot which the toller."- ing is a specification.

This invention relates to means'for automatically transmitting thereadings of an indicating member by Wireless Pto a distant point and thepresent application is a division of my pending application Serial No.365,144, tiled March 12, 1920, issued as Patent No. 1,428,507, datedSept. 5, 1922. `My invention is particularly useful in auto- Vmaticallytransmitting by Wireless to or form an aircraft or other distant pointthe readings of a compass, tire control instrument, or other indicatoron board a ship, whereby the ships or airplanes heading or the bearingeta target observed trointhe ship may be constantly communicated to suchdistant point. Such a system has especial uses in the aerial ordnancecontrol for heavy guns Where the target is only visible from airplanes,which signal to the, ship or other tiring station the bearings of thetarget. In such a system it is very desirable that the airplane pilotknow the bearing ot the ship, guns, etc.

The chie-f `object ot my invention is to provide simple and efficientmeans lor causing an indicator by means of radiant ini: pulses to followautomatically the movements of another indicator at a. distant point andespecially adapted `for the use outlined above. Other objects andadvantages will become apparent as the` description of my inventionproceeds.

Referring to thedrawings wherein l have shown what l noiv consider thepreferred 'forms of my invention:

Fig. l is a. diagrammatic view et one Aforni of transmitting apparatusshowing the Wiring therefor. I

Fig. 2 is a Wiring diagram or' a receiving apparatus for use inconnection with. the transmitting apparatus of Fig. l.

i is a View of a detail.

Fig. 4 is a4 Wiring diagram showing another form of receiving apparatus.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views of details.

ln Fig. 1 l have shown at 1 a conventional indicating instrument, whichmay be a rotatable compass card or tire control indicator. Actuated bythis indicator in a manner Well known in the art is a transmitter 2electrically connected with a repeater motor 3. The transmitter 2 andrepeater 3 may be of a type Well lrnoivn in the art, such as shown inthe patentV to Elmer A.. Sperry Serial No. 1,296,440, issued March 4,1919, tor repeater system for gyro-com passes, or in the application forpatent by Riemer Meitner, Serial No. 227,680, tiled April 10, 1918, forself-setting transmission system. oi the six pole type having three setsof coils 4, 5, and 6, and an armature 7.

For communicating to a distantpoint the indications or steps ofthegarmatureof repeater motor 3, l have provided means whereby, as therespective sets of coils et repeater 3 are energized, radiant impulsesor' different frequencies are sent, each et which :frequenciescorresponds to one ,setot coils of a repeater motor 8 at said distantstation. Various means may be provided for transmitting Wirelessimpulses ot different frequencies in accordance with the particularcoilsV of repeater 3 which are ener= gized. One form of such means isshown in Fig. f1

Fig. 1 and may be constructed substantially' as follows:

rlhe Wireless sending apparatus may be ot any conventional type. Forinstance, it may comprise a source 9 of E. M. F., connected The repeatermotor may kbeL to an induction coil 10, tothe secondary or which areconnected spark gap 11 and a plurality et inductaiices l2, 13, and 14-oi different values corresponding to differentV frequencies et theradiant impulses. By means to be described later only one of said coilsor inductances at a time is placed in circuit With the source of E. M.F. Each coil may coperate with an open oscillatory circuit consisting etan. antenna l5 and sep arately earthed coils 16, 17, and 18 cooperatingwith coils 12, 13y and 111, respectively.

The means for placing coils 12, 13, and 14 successively in circuit Withgenerator 9 may take various forms, a preferred form being shown' in-Fig- Y 1.V Said coilsr are shovvneach connected at' one end with aivire19 leading to one terminal of the induction coil and at their otherends with brushes 28 engaging members 20, 21, and 22, respectively.

l 7 mounted on a conducting sleeve 24 on shaft 23-,`Whichsleeveisconnected by Wire 25# separated-by insulation '29* from shafit 23.

F1on1-ltlie construction above described it Will nour be evident that,iix4 shaft be'rotatedi to follow the moven'ients ot repeater 3, and thecontact' portionso'f members y2O, 21', and 22'be suitablyarrangedy:with: respect to said shaft, one of coils 12, 13, andlicorrespondingfivitlr the particular. Aset 4', 5, or

tof the coilsofrep'eater 3 Whichl is energized, Will beconnected' in thesending circuit; Shaft 23" might s be" connected directlywith"thearmature'of vrepeater motor 3, but ovving kto they possibilityof the Ymotor tall-ing outot step it' overloaded, I vprefer to employ inconnection therewith a follow-up system.

As shown in Fig. 1, the aforesaid itollen7` up' system may compriseatrolley 30' retat able with the armature ot yrepeater"motor 3 andcenneetedi'by a conductor 31 with one terminalv of a battery'32 orothersource et .E; MF., the other'terminal of'which source of E'. M. F'. maybe connected with one-teu minal of a'fmotor The other lterminal ot themotor maybe connected-as'shoivn with opposite'lywound' `field coils Setand 35; which coils'are connected? attheir other ends with Contact`portions'1 and 37 respectively eta drum 88 iixed to shaft 28. Thelatter-shaft is driven by the motor.v lllhenarniature 7 is atrest,trolley 30 restson al strip et insulation betweenI contact portions'3G-and 37.' VVh'en, however, said' armature moves in one direction'orthe other5, it Will bei evident that current Will'fiov through motor33 and one or the other oflield' 'coils 34, 35 tl'iereby'cai'i'singmotor 83' to turn'in such direction as to bringthe aioresaid'fstril') ofinsulation again under trolley 50. Shai't 23 an'd thef Contact membersmounted thereon are thiisturiied lto follow-up thel movements ofrepeater motor For causing a Wireless impulse to be sent The lattermembers are shown in Figs. 5, efand each time that armature 7 movesthrough one step l may utilize means arranged substantially as follows:On sha'tt is a member 38 of insulating material having a plurality o'tContact segments 39 arranged at suitable portions along its periphery7and a conducting hub d0 insulated from shaft 23 by means of a sleeve 41.In the example shown, six contact segments 89 are provided andaresuitably connected to conducting hub 10.' ylhe latter Lis engaged by abrush 42 connected by conductor 43 to a relay magnet coil 14, Whichcoilis connected as shown to one terminal of battery 32.- rl-he other'terminal et said battery is .shown connected With a brush i5 inengagement witlrthe periphery of member 38. rlhe armature 16 ot relay'coil eli 's shown adapted to close a circuit through generator" 9 andinduction coil' 1l)l when said arma-ture is attracted by said coil.Normally the armature is heldA by a spring 47 in" a position inwhichthe: a'iiore said circuit is open.

rlilie operation ofthe' above described' ap` paratus ivillnow bereadilyunderstood. is indicator 1\turns, transmitter 2 is actuated andarmature 7 andtrolley 30are caused to move stepby step.y As armature 7commenees to turn through a-step, motor 33 is energizedto' turnshaiitj23 through thesame stepior angleas armature@v turns. Preferably,contact segi'nents` 39t oi" member 38" are se"y arranged1r thatthe-circuitl through coil dit :is closed'at someV point' during the turning'ot shaft23 through saidvstep'or ang-le and opened-'again' by thetime the turning through saidstep has beencompleted, since if saidcircuit-is closed 'at' the' exact time that turning through saidstep-is'completed, impulses Will'be sent continuously untilA theshaiit123 again commences to turn. it the time the circuit through coil44 is closed,

the contact rportion ofthev proper one' oi members 20, 21, and 22 hasbeen brouglit under its cooperating. brush so that that one ofcoils-12,13, and 14- Which corresponds witl'rthe energizedflset oitrepeater oeils is connected inthe Wireless sending circuit. Consequentlyan impulse ett 'a Yfrequency corresponding-to the aforesaid set oitrepeater coilsWilll have'been sent'by the time shaft 23 has beenturned:through an angle corresponding toethatlthrough which armature 7hasfturned. in other Words, foreach step of said arn'iature,-a-n-impulsecorresponding in frequency withv the set otre peater coilsenerg-izedis-sent, l have shown sii; contact segments on member 38', u' iereby thecircuit ot the wireless transmission sys tem Awilll be closed'. sii;times during'one revolution or the repeater. lt is evident; ho\\- ever,that, Where the repeater has twelve stepsper revolution, as isthe casein the patent to Sperry aforementioned", twelve contacts might bearranged on member 38',

whereby twelve wireless impulses per revolution ol the repeater motorwouldV be transmitted. Of course, if desired, six contacts, asV shownmay be used even where the repeater motor has twelve steps, with theresult that six impulses per revolution would be sent, one for each twosteps.

I have shown for purposes of illustratioii the wireless transmittingapparatus as controlled indirectly from the master indicating instrumentl through the medium of one oi the repeaters connected with saidinstrument. It will, however, be obvious that the sha't't can be drivendirectly by indicator 1 in the same manner as transmitter 2, and thattransmitter 2, repeater 3, and the follow-up motor may be omitted fromthe connection between said indicator and said shaft.

In Fig. 2 I have shown one form ot wire-- less receiving meansadapted tocause the energization of the propel' set oi." coils ot a repeater motor8 according to the frequency ot the impulses received. Each set 48, 49,and ot the repeater' coils is shown conneetedvat one end to a commonconductor 5l leading to one terminal oi" a source 52 ot' E. M. F. Thesets of coils may be connected at their other ends with contacts 53, 54,and 55, respectively, et certain polar ized relays which contacts areadapted to be engaged by the relay armatures 56, 57, and `58. Saidarmatures are shown connected Vwith the other terminal ot source 52 otE. M. F. Repeater motor 8 may be geared or otherwise connected, as iswell known in the art, with a repeating indicator 8.

A conventional open oscillatory circuit is shown at 59, coupled withwhich are a plurality ot closed oscillatory circuits including coils 60,6l, and 62. In circuit with said coils are suitable detectors ot'electrical oscillations, such detectors being indicated at 63, 64, and65. Coils 60, 61, and 62 cooperate with earthed coils 66, 67, and 68 ofthe aforesaid open oscillatory circuit and are each responsive to adifferent one of the frequencies sent by the transmitter magnet. Coils69, 70, and 7l are interposed in the closedoscillatory circuits as shownand are adapted to attract armatures 56, 57 and 58, respectively, toclose circuits through the sets ot coils o'l ,the repeater motor 8.

Inasmuch as the armatures of the conventionalrepeatermotors of the typeshown are not polarized, it follows that the repeater may easily fallout of step with the transmitter itnone of the coils of the repeaterare' energized, since the armature and indicator movable thereby arethen free to take up positions in response to various external forces;Accordingly I have provided the polarized relays shown so that when oneof said relays is energized it will close a circuit through thecorresponding `set of repeater coils and maintain such circuit closeduntil another set of coils yis' energized. T he armatures 56, 57, and 58may be polarized in any suitable and conventionalmanner. In series withcoil ,69 are coils 7 2'and 73 adapted, when energized, to withdrawarmatures 57 and 58 from engagement'with their respective contacts,Likewise, in series with coil 70 are coils 74tand 75 adapted to withdrawarmatures 56 and 58, while in series with coil 7l are coils 76 and 77adapted. to withdraw armatures 56 and 57.

The operation ot the above described receiving apparatus will now becomeevident. Assuming that an impulse is sent of a frequency correspondingto repeater coils 4t and to which coil and detector 6l are responsive,coils 69, 72, and 78 are energized. Armature 56 is thus attracted `tocause energization of set 48 et the repeater coils and simultaneouslyarmatures 57 and 58 are Vkept out of engagement withtheirrespectivecon-V tacts. IVhile the impulse maybe ot vonly brie'i'duration, armature 56, being polarized, will remain in engagement withcontact 53 Vand keep set i8 of the repeater coils energized'. Said setof coils Vwill remain energized until an impulse of a ditlerent'trequency is sent. Thus, if an impulse oil a frequency to which coil 6lis responsive is sent,rsuch frequency corresponding with repeater coils5, armature 56 will be withdrawn from engagement with contact 53 andsimultaneously coil 70 will be energized to attract armature 57 andcause energization of set I9 ot the repeater coils. It, on the otherhand, an impulse of a frequency to which coil 62 is responsive andcorresponding with repeater coils 6 were sent, armature 56 would bewithdrawn from engagement with contact 53 and si1nultaneously coil 7lwould be energized to attract armature58 to cause energization of set 50of the repeatercoils. In this manner the armature of repeater motor 8will be maintained in synchronism with motor 3 and indicator l.

In Fig. l I have shown an alternative arrangement whereby twelve stepsper repeater rotation may be obtained at the receiving station. In thiscase, two si);y pole repeater motors 78 and 78 may be so connected withthe Vshaft 80, which actuates a suitable indicator, that the coils otone are displaced thirty degrees with respect to the corresponding coilsof the other. Thus, it the sets of coils of one'inotor are energized inbetween the energizations of the setsot coils of the other motor, theshaft 80 will be moved through steps of thirty degrees each. Y Forcausing the coils ot the aforesaid motors to 'be energized in the propersequence I have shown connections similar to those shown in Fig. 2,except that six closed oscillatory circuits, including coils 8l to 86,responsive to different frequencies, are provided. In this case it isobvious that twelve impulses per revolution of the repeater 3 should besent, as by providing twelve contact segments on memberBS. Also, it WillAbe evident, that six different frequencies should be provided in thetransmitting. apparatus inv place of the three shown, .the frequenciescorresponding. to ysuccessive steps ofV the repeaterthrough 189",Inasmuch as it-Wi'll be obvious to Vthose skilled in the art,

after inspection of Fig. l, how six` different inductances in place-ofthree may be connected inthe transmission circuit to obtain the desiredresults,- further illustration is thought yunnecessai are :likewiseconnectedA at one end With the` aforesaidl terminal of battery 79 andthe other ends of said coils are connected )with contacts 92, 94, andr90.- Contacts 90. to 9:5, inclusive, are adapted to'be engaged byarmatures of polarized relays of the type shown in Fig.v 2, saidarmatures being connected Withfthe other terminal of battery 79.

The operation of the construction shown in .Fig tivill now be readilyapparent. Assumingthat coils A of motor 3 are energized and that animpulse Vof a frequency correspending thereto is sent, to whichfrequency coil- 82. is responsive, the armature which cooperates withcontact 91 will., be attraetedl to close a circuit through coils l87 ofthe repeater 78. If noiv, coils 5 otrepeatermotor Bare energized Whilecoils 4t remain energized the armature of said nio,.- tor will movethrough thirty degrees and an impulse of a frequency to. Which'coil-B.is responsive Willy be sent. A circuit through coils 87 of motor 78/Will thereupon, be closed and simultaneously therewith the circuitthrough coils 87- et motor 78 will be brokena It', on thek other hand,While coils lremained energized, coils had. been energized, anV impulseto which coil 8l is responsive would have been sent, which would haveresulted in the simultaneous closing-,oia a circuit through coils 89 ofrepeater motor 78 and breaking of the circuity through coils 87 oflrepeater motor 78.

The indicator actuated by motors 78 and 7 8 may thus beA movedstep-by-step. inl either direction and kept inl synchronism withindicator l..

Inasmuch` asv ships andl aircraft vare commonly provided with antennaefor Wireless telephonepurposes, itivill be evident that the sameantennae, ras Well as .other parts ofthe Wireless apparatus,maybeutilized in connection with my wireless repeater system. Hence noadditional antennae are necessary. The Wireless telephone apparatuscoils, of course, operate With impulses ofV the usual or normalfrequency, and addi.- tional vfrequencies may easily be provided, as,for example, Vin themanner above disclosed, for. the operation of' therepeater system.

In accordance With the provisions of the patent statutes, I Vhave hereindescribed the principle of operationk ot my invention, togetherwith theapparatus, which Iy now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof, but Idesire to have it understood that the apparatus shown isonly illustraf tive and that theA invention can be carried out by othermeans. Also, While it is ydesigned to use the various features andelements in the combina-tion and relations describedv some of these maybe altered and others omitted Without interferingavith the more generalr suits outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having herein ldescribed my invention, what I claim anddesire to secureby Letters Patent is,

l. Incoinbination, a repeaterrmotor having a plurality ot pairs ofpoles, means responsive toradiant impulses of a given frequency forenergizing one pair of saidpoles, and rmeans responsive to radiantimpulses of another frequency,y for,y energizing another pair vof saidpoles.

2. Incombinatioma repeater motor having a pluraiity of pairs oitl poles,meansre.- sponsive to radiant'inipulses for energizing said poles,and'means for maintaining one pair of poles energized until'the neXtpairis energized. Y

3. `In combination, a repeater motor having .a pluralityol pairsot'poles, means responsive to. radiantf impulses., for energizing one`Lpair of said poles, yand 'mcansforfsimultaueously de'energizing said'pair of poles and energizinganother pairotpoles.

4. In. combination with a repeater motor having a plurality of pairs ofpoles, Wireless means for energizing said pairs of Apoles successively.

5. In combination, repeater inciter, a bearing indicator actuatedthereby, and Wireless controlled means tor actuating said motor.

6, In combination, amotor, a bearing indicatoractuated thereby for:indicating `the bearing oit a remote object, and 'Wireless controlledmeans for actuating said motor.

7. In combination, a repeater 'motor' having` a plurality of poles,.andpluralityfof` means responsive to radiant impulses oit' differentfrequencies for energizing the'` respective poles.

n 8. In combination, a repeaterm'otor'li-aving'l a, plurality of pelas'and a j )luralityfof means responsive to radiant impulses of gizing anyone of said pairs of poles, and dilerent frequencies for energizing theremeans for simultaneously deenergizing said spective polessuccessively. pair of poles and energizing another pair of 10 9. Incombination, a repeater' motor liavpoles. 5 ing a plurality of pairs ofpoles, a bearing In testimony whereof I aiiix my signainclicatoractuated thereby, means responture. sive to radiant impulses forselectively ener- ELMER A. SPERRY.

